MUNDO OBRERO Asistencia pública se desvanece 12

Workers and oppressed peoples of the world unite! workers.org Feb. 19, 2009 Vol. 51, No. 7 50¢ What can stop layoffs? Organize to fight back now

By Fred Goldstein People Movement is forging a grassroots alliance for struggle and calling a national action against the bank- On becoming president, Barack Obama proclaimed ers on Wall Street on April 3 and 4. While the mobiliza- Employee Free Choice Act his job creation goal to be 3 million jobs over the next two tion is targeting the bankers, it has a broad program with years. Yet in the last two months alone nearly 1.2 million a focus on stopping the layoffs. Hundreds of endorsers jobs have been lost: 577,000 in December and 598,000 and contingents are coming aboard from every region of Why workers in January. The December figure was revised upward the country. by the government, which had originally estimated it at Along the same line, a network of local coalitions in 533,000. Economists expect the monthly number to be cities around the country, from New York to Boston to even worse in February. Los Angeles, is organizing to make May Day 2009 a need it With each new layoff announcement, the target num- day of struggle and unity to fight back against attacks By Cheryl LaBash ber for jobs to be created goes up. The latest target is 4 on immigrant workers and to strengthen the struggle million, even though right-wing Republicans are whit- against the economic crisis. Many of these coalitions On Feb. 4, thousands of workers delivered boxes tling down the stimulus package. played key roles in the great May Day 2006 strike/boy- of signed cards supporting the Employee Free Choice The official unemployment number has jumped cott of millions of immigrant workers. Act (EFCA) to Congress in Washington, D.C. The from 7.2 percent to 7.6 percent. But this is not the total At this moment a delegation representing 250 work- cards represent more than 1.5 million signers from unemployment number, which includes those who have ers, most of them immigrants, who sat in at Republic every U.S. state. On Feb. 5, workers in California stopped looking for work and those working part time Windows and Doors in Chicago is touring the country. marched 10 miles in the rain from downtown Los because they cannot find full-time work. That has jumped These workers occupied the plant for five days until they Angeles to the Westwood Federal Building dramati- from 13.5 percent to 13.9 percent. won their severance pay and back pay. They are telling cally demanding passage of the EFCA. In effect, this means that to achieve full employment their inspiring story to standing-room-only gatherings Meanwhile, corporations, banks and business asso- for the approximately 154 million people in the workforce, of trade unionists and activists. The workers are from ciations like the U.S. Chamber of Commerce are heav- some 21.4 million new full-time jobs would be needed the United Electrical Radio and Machine Workers, Local ily financing public relations and lobbying campaigns now—and this number is growing rapidly each month. 1110. The tour is sponsored by Jobs with Justice. to defeat it. The U.S. Senate “millionaires’ club” has Every worker should do the math. The so-called The boldness of Local 1110 inspired the solidarity of even balked at confirming Hilda Solis, President stimulus package, even assuming that it could meet its the labor movement and the political movement. These Barack Obama’s nominee for Secretary of Labor, goals, appears more and more anemic compared to the workers set a living example of reviving a tactic–the sit- because Solis supports the EFCA. momentum of the crisis, which is growing each week, down strike—that was used in the 1930s on a massive each month. Creating relatively few jobs at a snail’s scale to win the greatest victories in U.S. labor history. What is the Employee Free Choice Act? pace leaves tens of millions of workers unemployed and Local 1110 carried out its sit-down strike in Chicago EFCA legislation proposes to block bosses who try underemployed. Tens of millions more are vulnerable to in the midst of a growing economic crisis. But these to stop or delay union certification through intimi- becoming part of the unemployment statistics. workers are not unique. All over the country there are dation, threats or firing pro-union workers. Under Every new grim announcement by the government on rank-and-file workers, lower-level union officials, shop the EFCA when a majority of workers sign cards and unemployment, foreclosures, evictions, homelessness, stewards and trade union activists at all levels, as well choose direct union certification instead of an election, the loss of health care, hunger, record numbers applying as sympathizers with the labor movement, looking for a the bosses will be required to begin negotiations for to hard-pressed food banks, an increase in child poverty, way to fight back. the initial contract. Binding arbitration can be used to etc., should become a big wake-up call for the multina- reach two-year contracts if those negotiations fail. For tional working class to get organized for a fightback. Vast network of potential power the first time, penalties including triple back pay and There are now 16 million workers in the organized fines can be levied against the bosses for “unfair labor Actions being planned labor movement. There are tens of thousands of local practices.” One important attempt to begin the crucial fightback unions around the country, thousands of them under Both union federations, Change to Win and the is taking place in New York City where the Bail Out the Continued on page 3 Continued on page 4

ENFORCE BAILOUT M UST-SEE CINEMA Relieve homeowners 2 ‘MILK’ & ‘FTA’ 5 BOLIVIA’S DARWIN & MARX 4 NEW CONSTITUTION Victory for Indigenous peoples 8 RACISM & STATE REPRESSION Origins of Black History Month 6 GAZA FALLOUT Detail from contemporary The right to resist 7 Zimbabwe Boycott, Divest, Strike 11 sculpture The frameup of Chuck Mumia Abu-Jamal Turner Subscribe to Workers World update 6 Eight weeks trial: $4 One year: $25 www.workers.org 7

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email Free Address City/State/Zip Leonard Peltier Workers World 55 W. 17 St., 5 Fl., NY, NY 10011 212-627-2994 Editorial 10 Page 2 Feb. 19, 2009 www.workers.org Michigan sheriff points the way enforce bailout bills, H In the U.S. Organize to fight back now ...... 1 relieve homeowners Employee Free Choice Act—Why workers need it . . . 1 Enforce bailout bills, relieve homeowners ...... 2 by Jerry Goldberg in the case of HERA, the value of the homes in foreclo- Support immigrant rights ...... 3 sure. In almost every part of the country, home values Activists tell Mich. governor: Stop foreclosures . . . . 3 The Treasury Secretary will soon announce plans have dropped precipitously, so these laws mandate sig- Marx, Darwin and upheaval in biological sciences . . . 4 for the federal government to essentially take over the nificant reductions in the principal of the loans. In cities failed mortgage industry. The announcement is expected like Detroit, where $150,000 homes are selling for $7,500 Community activists crash CEO’s conclave ...... 4 to include a dramatic expansion of the Troubled Asset after the owners are foreclosed and evicted, these laws Movie review: ‘Milk’ ...... 5 Recovery Program, under which the U.S. Treasury will virtually mandate turning over the homes to their current New life for anti-war film Pentagon suppressed . . . . 5 either directly control or have a significant interest in owners. most mortgages, either through the creation of a special There is no effective mechanism in place, however, for The origins of Black History Month ...... 6 federal bank for failing loans or with enhanced federal carrying out the provisions embodied in TARP and HERA Petition says ‘stop frame-up of Chuck Turner’ . . . . . 6 guarantees to back up failing loans. on behalf of homeowners. It will take a mass struggle to The class character of violence ...... 7 This is an extension of a policy already in effect. On enforce these laws and stop foreclosures. Legal update on Mumia Abu-Jamal’s appeals . . . . . 7 July 30 of last year, the U.S. government took over Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac, which own or guarantee at Sheriff Evans got it right Letter to the editor ...... 10 least one-half of all mortgage loans, through the Housing On Feb. 2 Wayne County Sheriff Warren Evans of and Economic Recovery Act. That laid the groundwork Detroit, after examining the bailout bills, stopped all sher- H Around the world for TARP. In January the government announced that in iff sales in the county. Sheriff sales are the first step in New constitution wins in Bolivia ...... 8 addition to bailout gifts of $45 billion each to Citigroup the foreclosure process in Michigan. There were approxi- Global crisis cuts immigrants’ jobs ...... 8 and Bank of America, the government will guarantee mately 500 sheriff sales per week in Wayne County. $300 billion in bad loans for Citigroup and $100 billion Sheriff Evans stated, “The sheriff would violate the New Somalia government ...... 9 in bad loans for Bank of America. TARP by conducting mortgage foreclosure sales. … The Harlem meeting: ‘Hands off Zimbabwe’ ...... 9 sheriff opens himself up to liability by foreclosing mort- Tamils protest bloody offensive ...... 9 What this means for workers and poor gages, or assets as they are defined in the TARP Act, that Kim Jong-Il ...... 10 Both TARP and HERA contain buried language ignored have been bought by the Secretary. The potential liability by Congress, the media and the mortgage industry that would arise if the sheriff … forecloses a mortgage con- Israeli crimes in Gaza protested ...... 11 potentially offers significant protections for homeowners. taining ‘troubled assets,’ thereby violating a homeowner’s Afghanistan ...... 11 For example, 12 USC 5219 in TARP states: “To the right to loan modification, especially where the antici- extent that the Secretary acquires mortgages, mortgage pated recovery on the principal outstanding obligation of H Editorials backed securities, and other assets secured by residential the mortgage under the modification is likely to be greater Free Leonard Peltier ...... 10 real estate, including multi-family housing, the Secretary than, on a net present value basis, the anticipated recovery shall implement a plan that seeks to maximize assistance on the principal outstanding obligation of the mortgage H for homeowners and use the authority of the Secretary through foreclosures.” (www.waynecounty.com/sheriff) Noticias En Español to encourage the servicers of the underlying mortgages, Evans said he would not break federal law by continu- Asistencia pública se desvanece ...... 12 considering net present value to the taxpayer, to take ing to carry out foreclosure sales. advantage of … available programs to minimize foreclo- Sheriff Evans got it right. It’s important for activists sures. In addition, the Secretary may use loan guarantees throughout the country to express their solidarity with his Workers World and credit enhancements to facilitate loan modifications actions, which are under severe attack from the finance 55 West 17 Street to prevent avoidable foreclosures.” industry and the media. Email your support to Evans’ New York, N.Y. 10011 Section 1403 of HERA amends the federal Truth in press secretary at [email protected]. Sheriff Evans’ Phone: (212) 627-2994 Lending Act and places a duty on servicers of residen- actions set a precedent for the entire country and provide Fax: (212) 675-7869 tial pooled mortgages to carry out loan modifications or activists with ammunition to demand that local govern- E-mail: [email protected] workout plans when the value of the plans would exceed ment bodies that carry out foreclosures in their areas Web: www.workers.org immediately cease and desist. the value to be derived from foreclosing the homes. Vol. 51, No. 7 • Feb. 19, 2009 Goldberg is a Detroit attorney and organizer with These loan modifications mandated by the bailout acts Closing date: Feb. 10, 2009 are significant because they force loan servicers to take the Moratorium NOW! Coalition to Stop Foreclosures into account the present value of homes and, especially and Evictions. Editor: Deirdre Griswold Technical Editor: Lal Roohk Managing Editors: John Catalinotto, LeiLani Dowell, Leslie Feinberg, Monica Moorehead, Gary Wilson Low-Wage Capitalism • The technological revolutions of the West Coast Editor: John Parker digital age, in both produc tion and A timely new book by Fred Goldstein describes in communica tions, have allowed trans- Contributing Editors: Abayomi Azikiwe, sweeping detail the drastic effect on the working class of national corporations to destroy high- Greg Butterfield, Jaimeson Champion, G. Dunkel, new technology and the restruc turing of global capitalism wage jobs and simultaneously expand Fred Goldstein, Teresa Gutierrez, Larry Hales, in the post-Soviet era. It uses Karl Marx’s law of wages and the global workforce to generate Kris Hamel, David Hoskins, Berta Joubert-Ceci, other findings to show that these developments are not a worldwide wage competition. Cheryl LaBash, Milt Neidenberg, Bryan G. Pfeifer, only continuing to drive down wages but are creating the • The decline in the economic Betsey Piette, Minnie Bruce Pratt, Gloria Rubac material basis for future social upheaval. condition of the workers, driven by the The analysis rests on three basic developments in laws of capitalism and the capitalist Technical Staff: Sue Davis, Shelley Ettinger, the last three decades: class, is leading to the end of working- Bob McCubbin, Maggie Vascassenno • The world’s workforce available to exploitation by class compromise and retreat and Mundo Obrero: Carl Glenn, Teresa Gutierrez, transnational capitalist corporations doubled in the must end up in a profound revival of wake of the collapse of the USSR and Eastern Europe. Berta Joubert-Ceci, Donna Lazarus, Michael Martínez, the struggle against capital. Carlos Vargas Order online at www.Leftbooks.com Copyright © 2008 Workers World. Verbatim copying and distribution of articles is permitted in any medium JOIN Us. 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Solidarity with immigrants in NYC Because of her record of hostility to immigrants, Rep. Kirsten Gillibrand’s appointment to replace Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton in the U.S. Senate has drawn opposition. Many promi- nent Black and Latin@ community leaders joined City Councilmember Charles Barron on Feb. 5 in New York City for a news conference to criticize her appointment. Among them were representa- tives from 100 Blacks in Law Enforcement and Brenda Stokely of the Million Worker March. Leaders of the Latin@ community included mem- bers of the May 1 Coalition and Ydanis Rodriguez, a community leader from Washington Heights. The speakers voiced their solidarity with the immigrant community and called Gillibrand’s selection for Senator “an attack on immigrants.” —Teresa Gutierrez Photo: Roberto Mercado What can stop layoffs? Organize to fight back now

Continued from page 1 or 1972, or declare the crisis to be the has lowered wages and increased produc- The only thing that can change the attack by the waves of layoffs. There are “worst since the Great Depression,” they tion. That is what is called capitalist anar- course of the crisis is the conscious, orga- hundreds of municipal and regional labor keep their fingers crossed that the working chy of production. nized intervention of the workers and councils whose members are under siege class in general, including the oppressed— In the auto industry the global capac- the communities to defend themselves– or living in fear of layoffs, shortened hours the African American, Latina/o, Asian and ity could produce 90 million autos a year. to demand the right to a job, to housing, and demands for concessions. Native communities—will get frightened, Present production is 66 million a year. to health care, to education and to social This vast network of potential working demoralized and retreat into trying to deal Semiconductors are used in everything services of all kinds. class power is lying dormant as the top with the crisis on an individual basis. from iPods to airplanes, yet the semicon- The process of getting organized for labor leaders try to avoid mobilizing the But everyone knows in their bones that ductor industry is operating at 66 percent struggle is a difficult one. But there is no workers to push back. The labor leadership this crisis cannot be fought on an individ- of capacity. Even the oil industry is oper- other course. The only social force that is understandably focused for the moment ual basis. Organization is the most impor- ating far below capacity. can bail out the workers, the only force on pushing through a legislative victory tant weapon that the working class and Why? Because the masses do not have that is going to stop the layoffs, the fore- for the Employee Free Choice Act, which the oppressed have. the money to purchase the vast invento- closures and evictions, the racist attacks, legalizes the card check system for union The capitalist system is in the midst of ries of commodities that have been built the sexist inequality of wages and abuse organizing. But this measure, important as a major, global crisis of overproduction. up by their own labor as the bosses race of women, the raids on undocumented it is in the day-to-day campaign to organize There is a glut of commodities that cannot for profits and market share. So produc- workers—that is going to stop all forms unions, will not meet the urgent needs of be sold because the entire capitalist class tion shuts down. Plants and offices are of oppression—is the might of the orga- the millions falling under the ax of layoffs all over the world, in the race for profits, destroyed or sit idle. nized, multinational working class. n or losing their health care and their homes on a daily basis. Most importantly, these measures fail Activists tell Michigan governor: to blunt future layoffs. The layoffs arise from the urgent needs of the capitalists to preserve their profits and cut their losses. The rank and file must get organized ‘Stop foreclosures & evictions, within their locals, within their unions and within the union movement as a whole and unite with the communities and activists moratorium now!’ all over the country to develop a genuine fighting force. Neither John Sweeney of By Kris Hamel the AFL-CIO nor Andrew Stern of SEIU/ Lansing, Mich. Change to Win has represented the labor movement or the working class as a whole Activists fighting to stop home foreclo- in this crisis. sures and community devastation gath- ered in the bitter cold outside the state French workers set example Capitol here on Feb. 3 as Gov. Jennifer These leaders should contemplate Granholm delivered her annual State of what just took place in France, where 2.5 the State address. The action was called by million people, led by the unions, struck the Moratorium NOW! Coalition to Stop and/or marched to demand priority be Foreclosures and Evictions. given to protecting and creating jobs. The The protesters were buoyed by Wayne French workers shut down major cities, County Sheriff Warren Evans’ announce- from Paris to Marseilles, as all the unions ment on Feb. 2 that his office was immedi- united for a show of strength. Of course, ately suspending sheriff sales of foreclosed the French working class movement has a homes in Detroit. great tradition of class struggle. Evans had previously written to But the workers in the U.S. have a his- Granholm asking for a declaration of a tory of struggle as well. During the 1930s state of emergency in the county and a six- they carried out marches and rallies of the month moratorium on foreclosures. The unemployed. The Workers Alliance and governor’s office summarily dismissed the the Unemployed Councils put hundreds sheriff’s letter and denied his requests. of thousands of people who had been Many activists saw this as a racist reac- WW PHOTO: ALAN POLLOCK Lansing, Mich., Feb. 3. evicted back in their homes. They carried tion and yet another sign of Granholm’s out citywide general strikes. The workers disconnect with the suffering masses in In her speech Granholm stuck to her their message for blocks: “Stop foreclo- initiated hundreds of sit-down strikes. Michigan. unbelievable, long-time script of “things sures and evictions, moratorium now!” A This is a history and tradition that can and For over two years organizers have are going to get better.” But she announced graphic display of large photos of aban- must be revived. been fighting for a moratorium to halt the no plans or initiatives in this direction. doned, vandalized homes lined the main The bosses, bankers and their “experts” widespread foreclosure crisis engulfing Instead, huge budget cuts and layoffs sidewalk. are fully aware of this history, more so than every part of the state. Gov. Granholm has are on the horizon. Michigan is already When temperatures got too cold are most workers at the moment. That is rejected demands that she declare a state wracked by 10.6-percent unemployment, for activists to remain outdoors, they one of the reasons they were so anxious to of economic emergency and impose a mor- hundreds of shuttered factories, wide- marched into the Capitol where they were settle the Republic Windows and Doors atorium on foreclosures and evictions. She spread poverty and mass foreclosures. stopped by security. The protesters man- sit-down: the fear that it would become falsely claims she has no legal authority to Demonstrators kept up a spirited action aged to take over a room where they held contagious in the midst of a layoff crisis. do so and has publicly stated that any solu- in front of the Capitol building as speech- an indoor rally and speak-out. Everyone Each time they announce a new figure tion in Michigan to the housing foreclosure goers entered the event, which was closed vowed to continue the fight by whatever for layoffs that is “the highest” since 1983, disaster must “satisfy” the banks. to the public. A huge sound system carried means necessary. n Page 4 Feb. 19, 2009 www.workers.org Marx, Darwin and the upheaval in the biological sciences Charles Darwin By Sam Marcy banner of natural science. Both of them still not been finished off hith- Darwin’s death when regarded natural science as the one solid erto. It is now. Moreover, there no big bombshell from We reprint here excerpts from foundation for their revolutionary views, has never yet been such a mag- the right-wing “cre- an essay originally published in the views that were destined to shake up both nificent attempt to demonstrate ationist” camp was Workers World of March 25, 1983, to the ‘consciousness’ and the existence of historical development in nature, hurled at them. This coincide with the centennial of the death all mankind.” or at least not so happily.” year it was anthropol- of Karl Marx. This year we celebrate the Timiriazev refers of course to Darwin’s “On the Origin of Species” was ogy that came under bicentennial of Charles Darwin’s birth “On the Origin of Species” and Marx’s an application of the materialist attack with the sen- and 150 years since the publication of “Critique of Political Economy” because method, a demonstration of the sational publication his “On the Origin of Species.” The fol- the fact they were published in the same dialectical and materialist view of Derek Freeman’s lowing is only a small part of Marcy’s year is such a striking illustration of the of organic nature. It is precisely “Margaret Mead—the essay; the full text, which takes up such nature of the epoch in which they made what Marx and Engels were formulating making and unmaking of an anthropologi- profound developments as genetic engi- their great discoveries. as applied to the field of social develop- cal myth.” Freeman’s political motivation neering, can be found at workers.org. It was still the so-called progressive ment, of historical materialism, and espe- is clearly aimed to bolster the reactionary epoch of the bourgeoisie. Darwin’s rather cially their economic doctrines. school of sociobiology. It would be wholly inappropriate and quick acceptance was due to the fact that In its struggle against Darwinian evo- indeed regrettable to discuss the centen- some of the leading biologists at the time, Lenin on evolution lution, the reactionary right had hoped nial of Marx’s death without touching on including J. Hooker, A. Wallace, and It should be noted that Lenin summed to capture at least one defector from the the relationship between Marxism and Thomas Huxley in Great Britain, Haeckel, up the relation of Marxism to Darwinism scientific community to hold up as exhibit Darwinism, and on the relation of Marx Muller, and Weisman in Germany, and as follows: “Just as Darwin put an end to No. 1 to demolish Darwinism and fortify and Darwin as contemporaries who also some in the United States, accepted the the view of animal and plant species being the fraudulent basis of “creationism.” But corresponded with each other. The cur- Darwinian doctrine. Thus the bourgeoi- unconnected, fortuitous, ‘created by God’ nothing like that occurred. Quite the con- rent upheaval in the biological sciences sie was ready, but not altogether and not and immutable, and was the first to put trary. The assaults of the “creationists,” should indeed deepen interest in both the until after a lot of acrimonious discussion biology on an absolutely scientific basis well financed and well coordinated, were natural sciences as well as Marxism. and struggle, to accept Darwin. But it was by establishing the mutability and the unable to gain a foothold in the biological altogether different with Marx. Under no succession of species, so Marx put an end scientific community. The 1983 Book of Two giants of science circumstances could they accept Marx’s to the view of society being a mechanical the Year of the Encyclopedia Britannica, Kliment Timiriazev, one of the very conclusions in his “Critique of Political aggregation of individuals and was the which covers the events of 1982, remarks first in old Russia to have been a great Economy.” A conspiracy of silence veiled first to put sociology on a scientific basis in its Life Sciences report, “The efforts of Darwinian naturalist and incidentally the discoveries of Marx except among the by establishing the concept of the eco- creationists notwithstanding, the theory one of the first to acquaint himself with revolutionary working class elements of nomic formation of society as the sum- of biological evolution remained alive Marx’s’ “Capital” when it was first pub- the time. total of given production relations, by and healthy and a powerful intellectual lished in Russia, wrote on the publication establishing the fact that the development stimulus in 1982, a hundred years after of Darwin’s “On the Origin of Species” and Marx and Engels hailed Darwin of such formations is a process of natural the death of Charles Darwin.” Marx’s “Critique of Political Economy”: When “On the Origin of Species” was history.” To the present time, the efforts of the “When we commemorate the publica- published on Nov. 24, 1859, Engels imme- creationists to intervene in the debate tion of these two books, when we think diately got hold of the book and as early as Scientists debate how, to try to exploit and obscure the issues of it as a joint commemoration of Marx Dec. 12 of that year wrote to Marx, “The not if evolution occurred have not affected the continuing struggle and Darwin, we do so recognizing that the Darwin which I am just reading is really It seems that the biologists breathed to find new approaches to evolutionary two men marched side-by-side under the stupendous. Teleology in one respect had a sigh of relief during the centennial of theory. n Community activists crash CEO’s conclave

By Jaimeson Champion areas. In New York City, RTTC alliance Outraged New Yorkers are uniting to say anniversary of the day Dr. Martin Luther New York members include such organizations as that the continual handouts by the gov- King Jr. lost his life in 1968 struggling for FIERCE, Community Voices Heard, Make ernment to Wall Street at a time when social and economic justice. Marchers A coalition of community activists inter- the Road NY, Picture the Homeless and millions of people are teetering on the will demand that the needs of the masses rupted a Feb. 3 conference of New York’s NYC AIDS Housing Network/VOCAL, edge of survival are a callous and criminal of people who are suffering through this corporate elite, demanding that the needs among others. assault on the working class that will not economic meltdown come before the of poor and working-class New Yorkers In New York, as in other cities and be tolerated. It is time for the bankers and wants of Wall Street and the superrich. come before the wishes of Wall Street’s towns across the U.S., jobs are being bosses to pay for the misery and suffering A planning meeting for the April 3-4 power brokers. lost en masse, foreclosures and evictions they have unleashed. march on Wall Street will be held at the The “Future of New York” conference continue unabated, the cost of public Activists are gearing up for two days CUNY Graduate Center in Manhattan on was held at the posh Grand Hyatt Hotel transportation is rising, while social ser- of marching on Wall Street on April 3 Feb 18. For more information, visit www. and featured keynote speakers Jamie vices are being slashed and eliminated. and 4. The action will coincide with the bailoutpeople.org. n Dimon, chairman and CEO of JPMorgan Chase, and Robert Greifeld, CEO of the NASDAQ stock exchange. The themes of the conference concerned how the city could best meet the demands of the bank- EFCA: Why workers need it ers and bosses during this time of eco- nomic crisis. Continued from page 1 rights,” even to call and check on her chil- Home Depot chief Bernie Marcus, corpo- As New York Mayor Michael Bloomberg AFL-CIO, as well as the independent dren, Smithfield officials tried to intimi- rate lobbyist Rick Berman and others to delivered a speech promising to continue United Electrical workers—whose mem- date her to sign documents she did not raise anti-EFCA funds. the mayoral tradition of catering to the bers occupied the Republic Windows understand. According to SourceWatch.org, wishes of Wall Street, community activ- and Doors factory in December—actively One-on-one anti-union meetings Berman, formerly a labor law director for ists from the Right To The City alliance champion the EFCA. with the front line supervisor are forced the U.S. Chamber of Commerce, current- were able to breach conference security. The fight for union representation on workers in 78 percent of organizing ly runs the misnamed Center for Union Carrying placards, demonstrators inter- at Smithfield Packing in Tarheel, N.C., efforts (aflcio.org), and even when work- Facts, which attacks the EFCA. Big busi- rupted Bloomberg’s platitudes to say that shows why workers need the EFCA. In ers win their right to a union, nearly half ness isn’t only anti-union. Berman also any discussion on the future of New York December the mostly African-Amer­ican of new union certifications never get a opposed the Americans with Disabilities must include the voices of poor and work- and Latina/o workforce won union rep- contract. Act, supported using the Alar apple pesti- ing-class New Yorkers. They demanded resentation with the United Food and cide and backed the tobacco industry. inclusion in all decision-making pro- Commercial Workers after a 15-year Who’s opposing the EFCA? cesses that will impact their lives and struggle. On a good day, working condi- The National Association of Manu­fac­ Struggle won NLRA of 1935 communities. tions at the gargantuan hog slaughtering turers, the U.S. Chamber of Commerce The EFCA is a pro-labor amendment A number of the demonstrators were and processing plant are cold, wet, gruel- and banking interests are all pumping to the National Labor Relations Act of unjustly arrested, detained and charged ing and dangerous. money into a public relations campaign 1935. Rising out of the economic depres- with “disorderly conduct.” (Reuters) Union supporter Lorena Ramos’ per- to defeat the EFCA. sion that followed the 1929 stock market RTTC is a grassroots network of com- sonal story is on YouTube.com. She was The Huffington Post reported that on crash, by 1935 an upsurge of pitched bat- munity activists from cities across the arrested in the plant by company police Oct. 17, Bank of America, only three days tles including general strikes in Toledo, U.S. dedicated to resisting gentrification in 2004. Held inside the plant, hit in the after receiving a $25 billion bailout, host- and other anti-people attacks in urban face with a folder and told she had “no ed a conference-call meeting with AIG, Continued on the next page www.workers.org Feb. 19, 2009 Page 5 ‘Milk’ keeps focus on mass struggle By Shelley Ettinger deeply into Milk’s or any other charac- If the filmmakers had asked me how ter’s psyche. In this movie, that is a plus, to end this movie, I’d have suggested Charles Darwin Often on my walk to the subway after because it maintains the focus right where that rather than stopping at the death work, I pass a group of exuberant teenag- it should be: on the mass struggle. of Harvey Milk and that night’s mass ers gathered outside a nondescript door­ Scene after scene shows activists meet- candlelight march, then running some way in an unremarkable building in lower ing, strategizing, taking to the streets. In informational script about the aftermath, Manhattan. I smile. Sometimes we kid scene after scene, Milk says something there should have been a final scene. around a little. They along the lines of, “This isn’t about me as It would have shown what happened call me “auntie.” The an individual. This is bigger than me. This when the assassin Dan White’s infamous encounter always leaves Workers World is about a movement.” “Twinkie defense”—at trial he claimed me happy and hopeful. Movie Review For someone like me who took part he was crazy from eating too much junk For these are not just in that movement in those days, though food—won him a slap-on-the-wrist, short any teens, hanging out just anywhere. far from San Francisco, watching “Milk” prison sentence. They are students at the Harvey Milk brings back many memories. Here is the What happened was that once more School, New York City’s alternative public singer and evangelist Anita Bryant lead- the community took to the streets of San high school for lesbian, gay, bi and trans ing her “save the children” campaign to Francisco for Harvey Milk. Only this time youths. The school, the students’ sass and post, shot Mayor George Moscone and reverse cities’ and states’ gay-rights laws— their rage overflowed. Thousands headed confidence, our banter—all of it was made Supervisor Harvey Milk to death inside and protesters dogging her every move. to City Hall, chanting, “He got away with possible by the last 40 years of struggle San Francisco City Hall. Here are the reactionaries campaigning for murder,” smashing windows, setting fire for LGBT rights and liberation. Now, 30 years later, comes the movie California’s Briggs Initiative, which would to police cars. It came to be known as the Some of the high points in that strug- “Milk.” The film is nominated for eight have barred lesbian and gay teachers from “White Night” rebellion. gle came in the mid- to late-1970s in San Academy Awards, including Oscars for employment—and organizers mobilizing This—rebellion against injustice—is the Francisco. Harvey Milk was in the thick of director Gus Van Sant, writer Dustin Lance to defeat it. Here are people by the tens true legacy of Harvey Milk. We saw it in it, rising to national renown. As an activ- Black and actors Sean Penn in the lead role of thousands pouring into the streets time action again this past fall after the passage ist community leader and, eventually, as and Josh Brolin as the killer, White. and again, refusing to be silent, refusing of the vicious Proposition 8 in California. an elected city supervisor from the heav- “Milk” is a rare film for, from the to be driven back into the closet. We’ll keep seeing it until LGBT oppres- ily gay Castro district, Milk became a viewpoint of partisans for LGBT libera- That’s how it really was. It’s a stirring sion is vanquished. symbol of the LGBT movement. He was tion, it deserves the acclaim it’s received. experience to see it enacted on screen. When there is no longer any need for a also a strong advocate of linking up with Although it is ostensibly about the title The film doesn’t get everything right. Harvey Milk School, when LGBT youths the labor movement and the anti-racist character, this is really a movie about Women are largely absent, even in the don’t have to fear for their physical safety, struggle. something much bigger than one person. crowd scenes, which is bizarre and his- when repression and hiding and discrimi- For all this, he was assassinated. In This is a movie about an oppressed torically inaccurate. Also, with its empha- nation are bad old memories, the work of November 1978, Dan White, a racist, group organizing and fighting back. sis on Milk, beloved and important as he Milk and the countless, nameless others anti-gay former police officer who had The characterizations, in fact, are a bit was, the film omits the key role played by who battled for full rights will be com- just resigned from his city supervisor thin. The writing doesn’t delve all that more radical forces in the movement. plete. n New life for anti-war film Pentagon suppressed

By Brenda Sandburg see entertainers who told the truth about The film also reveals what life was like their experiences. Fonda and Sutherland for people living near U.S. bases. In the For 37 years no one was able to see had just finished filming “Klute,” when Philippines women and girls were forced “FTA,” a riveting documentary of the Dr. Howard Levy, known for refusing to into prostitution by poverty. One soldier anti-war show that Jane Fonda, Donald train Green Berets, asked them to be part says the prostitutes were required to get Sutherland and others performed for of the show. tested for sexually transmitted diseases GIs during the Vietnam War. The film Witty and moving, the production and to wear green badges in bars to indi- was yanked from theaters one week after featured satirical skits (in one num- cate they were disease free. it opened in 1972, and all copies were ber Donald Sutherland and Michael In Japan, a man describes what hap- destroyed. However, the original nega- Alaimo call out what’s happening on the pened when the U.S. dropped an atomic tives were discovered a few years ago, battlefield like baseball sportscasters), bomb on Hiroshima. Standing by a river, and a reprint of the movie is now being songs (Rita Martinson’s “Dear Soldier” he says the explosion rose 2,000 feet at released on DVD. is remarkable), and searing commen- the epicenter and thousands of people Sundance will broadcast this must-see tary (Sutherland’s closing call for people jumped into the boiling river to escape movie on Feb. 23 at 9 p.m. and on Feb. 28 to point the gun at the war makers is the heat. at 9 a.m. Docuramafilms is also distribut- stunning). Zeiger was instrumental in bringing ing it on DVD so everyone can access it President Richard Nixon would not this extraordinary film back to life. While through Netflix and other outlets. allow the troupe to take their show to making “Sir! No Sir!,” a stirring account “FTA,” which stands for “F**k the Army,” South Vietnam as Bob Hope did, nor per- of GI resistance to the Vietnam War, he played at the IFC Center in Manhattan on mit them on U.S. military bases. Instead, tracked down the people who produced

Feb. 2. Jane Fonda appeared in person they performed outside bases in Hawaii, ww Photo: Brenda Sandburg “FTA.” He discovered that “FTA” director to introduce the movie, along with David the Philippines, Okinawa and Japan. Jane Fonda Francine Parker had just the year before Zeiger, the director of “Sir! No Sir!,” and During the two-week tour they held 21 found the original 16-millimeter negative a representative of Iraq Veterans Against performances for more than 60,000 ser- “FTA” mixes excerpts from the show in a vault where it had been edited. She the War. “It really presents that time in a vice men and women. with interviews of GIs who talk about the had blown it up into a 35-millimeter print way that feels present and alive and real,” Fonda said the military tried to keep government’s deception and the racism but did not go further, as it appeared Zeiger said. them away by issuing releases that gave and sexism in the military. One Black GI thousands of dollars in back taxes were Fonda explained that the FTA show the wrong times for the show. But she said says Black men should be exempt from the owed on the film. was intended to counter Bob Hope’s pro- they waited until the audience turned up, war. “The only place a Black man should Zeiger discovered this was not the case, war USO program. At the time, there was and when thousands were unable to get fight is where he’s being oppressed,” he however, and took “FTA” to the Sundance massive opposition to the war within mili- into the packed venue, they held addition- says. “I’m not being oppressed in Japan, channel. n tary ranks, and GIs turned out in droves to al shows so everyone could see it. Pakistan or Vietnam.”

Minneapolis and San Francisco asserted By developing a framework to medi- relations. The same corporate interests get ‘mutual aid’ from other bosses—who workers’ power. ate the class struggle, the NLRA was a fighting the EFCA today wrote the anti- buy their products, for example, and thus Won by workers in the streets, the concession to “protect commerce.” Its union 1947 Taft-Hartley Act. help them with revenue while workers are NLRA for the first time legally recognized opening paragraphs state so plainly: Taft-Hartley levies steep penalties, losing pay by being out on strike. Big cap- workers’ rights to “self-organization, to “Experience has proved that protection including injunctions and fines, if work- italists get lines of credit from the banks form, join, or assist labor organization, by law of the right of employees to orga- ers and their unions exercise their NLRA in preparation for and during strikes, and to bargain collectively through represen- nize and bargain collectively safeguards rights. It allows bosses “free-speech” thus engage in ‘concerted activity’ against tatives of their own choosing … and to commerce from injury, impairment, or rights to interfere in organizing (“Low the workers. But workers are forbidden engage in other concerted activities for interruption … by restoring equality of Wage Capitalism,” p. 251) and encour- to ask for or receive ‘mutual aid and pro- the purpose of collective bargaining or bargaining power between employers and aged the state-by-state “right-to-work” tection’ through the ‘concerted activities’ other mutual aid or protection.” employees.” laws enacted predominantly in the of other unions in the form of sympathy U.S. unions were formerly outlawed Although today’s mouthpieces for the South—with its history of enslaved Black strikes or boycotts, etc.” as conspiracies. Still the NLRA did not bosses and bankers claim the EFCA is labor—and in the West to create internal Passage of the EFCA won’t end the include agricultural, domestic or railroad unfair, it’s only a small step toward over- low-wage havens. class struggle or repeal Taft-Hartley, but workers, thus excluding many African- coming the inherent and extreme bias In “Low Wage Capitalism,” Fred Gold­ will improve workers’ chances to gain a American, Latina/o and Asian workers. favoring management in capitalist labor stein notes: “The bosses have the right to union. n Page 6 Feb. 19, 2009 www.workers.org The origins of Black History Month by Dolores Cox Lincoln. He and Lincoln frequently brief period of time (1867- ist, writer and historian, well debated the issue of slavery. Douglass is 1877) when the emanci- known for “The Souls of Black February is designated as Black History known for one of his phrases, “If there is pation of Blacks during Folks,” published 1903. The Month in the U.S. It is also celebrated no struggle, there is no progress.” the Reconstruction Era NAACP is currently celebrat- in many other countries in the African Carter G. Woodson was a Ph.D. schol- guaranteed ex-slaves ing its 100-year anniversary. Diaspora. Black History Month was ini- ar from Harvard University whose par- citizenship status and Additionally, the month cel- tiated in 1926 by Carter G. Woodson as ents were formerly enslaved. In 1916 he the right to vote, Black ebrates religious institutions, Detail from “Negro History Week.” In 1976, the 200th established the Journal of Negro History men became politically contemporary as well as Blacks in sports. Zimbabwe anniversary of the U.S., the week was on Black people in U.S. history. He also active, holding 16 seats in sculpture Recognition is also given to the extended to one month, allowing for more established the Association for the Study Congress and 600 seats fact that Blacks have fought inclusion of activities and programs. of Negro Life and History (later, “Negro” in state legislatures. A violent, racist white in every major U.S. war, including the Woodson chose the second week in was changed to “African American”). backlash ended this progressive era. One Revolutionary War, the War of 1812 and February because both Abraham Lincoln Woodson initiated “Negro History hundred years of “Jim Crow” laws, legal- the Civil War. and Frederick Douglass were born in Week” in order to bring attention to the izing discrimination and segregation, Black history also includes several civil February. Woodson saw them as two significant contributions to U.S. society including terror against Blacks, followed. rights movements from the years 1896 men who had significantly influenced that Black people had made and to show Black History Month celebrates the through 1968. Following the initial invol- the lives and social conditions of African that their history was an integral part accomplishments and contributions of untary mass migration out of Africa, there Americans. of U.S. history. He noted that there was Black people in the U.S. in the fields of were several large voluntary migrations of Lincoln was the U.S. president who no respectable mention of Black people medicine, law, science and history as well Black people out of the South from 1896 signed the Emancipation Proclamation in in history books; that they were either as Black inventors and explorers. It also to the end of the 1960s. 1863, leading to the abolition of slavery. ignored or mainly represented as slaves, celebrates Black culture in the areas of Black History Month provides an impor- Douglass was born in 1817 in Maryland, slave descendents or referenced by their art, dance, literature and music. The role tant opportunity to shed an even brighter the son of an enslaved woman and her designated inferior social positions. of Black labor along with political move- spotlight on the legacy of oppression and white master. He was taken from his The initial contribution of Blacks in ments, such as Pan-Africanism, Black injustices in the form of political, econom- mother when he was an infant. When the U.S. was, of course, the 246 years Power, Garveyism, the right to self-defense ic and social inequalities that Black people he was in his early 20s, he escaped from of enslaved African labor which greatly and Black Nationalism, are honored. still face today and to push forward with slavery. contributed to the U.S. becoming the Black History Month also commemo- the struggles to win full equality. Douglass was self-educated and became wealthiest and most powerful country in rates Black economic and civic organiza- Black people are a global people. Their a fierce abolitionist. He was a newspaper the world. tions, such as the NAACP (formerly the history started in Africa, where the civi- editor and lecturer, known for his great The election of President Barack Obama Niagara Movement), which was co-found- lization of humankind began, with sci- oratory skills. He was an activist for wom- represents the latest chapter of African- ed by W.E.B. DuBois in 1909. DuBois, ence, math, religion and the written word. en’s rights and an advisor to President American achievements. However, for a born of ex-slaves, was a political activ- Unfortunately, though, U.S. public school systems and institutions of higher learn- ing are still resisting the full inclusion of Petition says ‘stop frame-up Black history in the curriculum of world history, not just for one month but all year of Chuck Turner’ round. n by Frank Neisser boston March on Wall Street on In collaboration with the International the anniversary on the day Action Center, City Councilor Chuck Turner has launched a new phase of his Martin Luther King gave “Campaign for Truth, Light and Justice,” his life fighting for social focusing national and international atten- tion not just on frame-up charges against and economic justice. Turner but also on eight years of corrupt Just as King knew that the practices by the Bush administration’s Department of “Justice.” struggle for civil rights at home bishop Filipe Teixeira, Ramsey Clark Turner has been fighting back ever since had to also be part of the struggle his fraudulent Nov. 21 arrest on baseless and Chuck Turner, Dec. 17. charges of extorting $1,000 to help obtain WW PHOTO: STEVE KIRSHBAUM against war abroad, he under- a liquor license. Supporters assert that the and attorneys general who set up political- had been hired by Ross’s predecessor, stood that no one, regardless arrest is clearly an effort by right-wing law ly and/or racially motivated indictments Maureen Feeney, to investigate Turner enforcement officials to deprive Boston’s and prosecutions; and initiate legislation and “advise” the council on what action to of their race would be free until African-American community of its elect- to end collusion between prosecutors and take. Ross admitted that any investigation everyone had the right to a decent ed leadership and to silence the leading the media that destroys the opportunity for other than a fair trial in a court of law is a voice for the most oppressed and disen- a fair trial by distributing government alle- waste of the council’s time and money. paying job or an income for those franchised in Boston. gations before arraignments, indictments On Dec. 17, Ramsey Clark, winner of the unable to work. A petition appeals to President Barack or trials have taken place. To sign the peti- 2008 U.N. Human Rights Award, conduct- Obama and Attorney General Eric Holder tion, go to supportchuckturner.com. ed a press rally with Turner in front of the Yes, 2 days.The protest to drop the fraudulent charges against Turner’s public campaign speaking out JFK Federal Building. Clark condemned will start on . Turner; investigate all pending indict- against the fraudulent frame-up against the politically motivated prosecution and Friday April 3 ments of public officials and drop those him has been meeting with success. Public lauded Turner’s 40-year career fighting for More people from all across the country that are racially and politically motivated; rallies drawing hundreds of activists and civil rights and social justice. He called for will join us on Saturday April 4 review all convictions made during the community members have put the case an investigation of the investigators and Bush administration to determine which against him on trial. prosecution of the prosecutors. Partial list of endorsers of the March on were based on racial or political motiva- In January, incoming City Council U.S. Attorney Michael Sullivan is Wall Street. Ad Hoc National Network to Stop tion and should therefore be overturned; President Michael Ross fired federal attempting to silence Turner by demand- Foreclosures & Evictions; Black Workers for Justice, initiate legal action against U.S. attorneys Judge Charles B. Swartwood III, who ing he sign a gag order before receiving Raleigh, NC; No. Carolina Public Service Workers the discovery information that is the con- Union-UE L. 150; Moratorium Now! Coalition To Stop stitutional right of any defendant. Turner Foreclosures & Evictions (Mich.); Labor/Community MArXIsM, REPARATIONS has refused to sign, saying through his Coalition to Stop Foreclosures & Evictions (Calif.); & the Black Freedom struggle lawyers that signing the order would leave BAYAN USA; May 1 Coalition For Worker & Immigrant Rights (NYC); Million Worker March Movement East; an anthology of writings from Workers World newspaper. him helpless to defend himself. Turner Edited by monica moorehead. includes: contends that signing such an order Chris Silvera, Sec-Treas., Teamster L. 808; Harlem Racism, national oppression & self-determination by larry holmes would give the U.S. attorney free rein to Tenants Council, NY, NY; Private Health Insurance Must Go Coalition, NYC; Charles Barron, member, Black labor from chattel slavery to wage slavery by sam marcy continue trying him in the media with the NYC Council*; Queers for Peace & Justice; Women’s Harriet Tubman: woman warrior by mumia abu-Jamal release of fragmentary allegations and Fightback Network (Mass.); Fight Imperialism, Stand Causes of turmoil in Jamaica by Pat Chin misinformation. Together (FIST youth); Int’l Action Center; Action Black youth: repression & resistance by leilani dowell At Turner’s next court appearance Center For Justice, Charlotte, NC; Queers Without Black and Brown unity: A pillar of struggle for human rights on Feb. 25 at 3 p.m. in Moakley Federal Borders, Hartford, CT; Maine Green Independent & global justice! by saladin muhammad COVER ILLUSTRATION: SAHU BARRON Courthouse, the judge will rule on the Party; ME; Guyanese American Workers United, NY, Are conditions ripe again today? 40th anniversary of the 1965 Watts Rebellion by John Parker gag order. Turner is holding a rally the NY; Pakistan USA Freedom Forum; Troops Out Now Racism and poverty in the Delta by larry hales evening before the court appearance at 6:30 p.m., in the cafeteria at Roxbury Coalition; For more endorsers, or to endorse go to Domestic Workers United demand passage of a bill of rights by imani henry Order at Community College. n www.bailoutpeople.org Black Reconstruction: The unfinished revolution by minnie Bruce Pratt Leftbooks.com * For identification purposes only www.workers.org Feb. 19, 2009 Page 7 The origins of Black History Month The class character of violence by larry Hales The fight is perpetual. As long as classes wrote that the state “is a product of society ily viewed in the imperialist U.S. There exist, the threat of violence always looms. at a certain stage of development; it is the are millions of homeless on the streets. Any serious attempt to delve into the How would the slave see freedom with- admission that this society has become In their 2007 annual report, the National nature of violence—where it comes from out fighting against the slave master? The entangled in an insoluble contradiction Law Center on Homelessness and Poverty and its uses—has to analyze it from a class goal of one is to realize freedom, while with itself. ... In order that these antago- reported that between 2.3 and 3.5 million perspective, taking into account the most the goal of the other is wealth and greater nisms, classes with conflicting economic people experience homelessness every oppressed among the working class. wealth. When the slave refuses to be a interests, might not consume themselves year. No doubt that figure has risen since Capitalism is a violent system, based slave, only force changes the equation. and society in sterile struggle, a power the economic crisis began. But there is on extracting surplus that is gained by The slave master cares only about profit, apparently standing above society became ample housing. In fact, there is a glut of exploitation. The ruling class perpetuates not the humanity of the slave—but values necessary for the purpose of moderating empty apartments, condos and houses. the capitalist system from this surplus. It his life over profit when the the conflict and keeping it within the The construction binge partly precipitated hoards part of the profit, but uses the vast slave gives no other choice. bounds of ‘order’; and this power, the economic crisis. majority to increase its influence and pur- ParT arising out of society, but placing Millions in the U.S. go hungry, yet the sue more profit by securing more markets, Violence of poverty itself above it, and increasingly alien- problem isn’t scarcity but ability to pay. advances in machinery, greater and cheap- and the state one ating itself from it, is the state.” The hurricane Katrina tragedy and the er access to resources and other means. Chattel slavery in the U.S. ceases to Whenever there is a strike or a rally, the deepening economic crisis both reveal Even during times of economic pros- exist, and throughout the world it is an police, as agents of the state, stand by— to the world the precariousness of the perity there is still exploitation. Though antiquated system, only existing in small not to protect the strikers or protesters, so-called “American Dream,” which is in the capitalists may extend more to the pockets. Yet the struggle continues still, but to protect the interests of the owners reality a false notion. Poverty and dispar- workers, the amount given is still greatly as workers fight for their rights and dig- of the business being struck or of private ity are abundant in the world’s richest unequal to the wealth being produced. nity. As the price of subsistence far out- property in general. country and are growing as total unem- The capitalist is merely biding time until paces wages, workers find it harder and When the workers at Republic ployment continues beyond the 20 mil- an economic decline, when gains made by harder to live. Windows and Doors occupied their fac- lion mark. the workers are taken away. The denial of a person’s right to hous- tory in Chicago in December 2008, they This economic violence not only breeds Any system based on profit is inher- ing, food, clothing and all the things nec- faced being raided by the police. These struggle from workers and the oppressed, ently violent. Karl Marx wrote in “The essary to subsist creates hardship and workers acted after the owners gave them but the dog-eat-dog world of capitalism— Communist Manifesto”: “The history of despair. If ever a person tries to com- only three days’ notice that they were clos- where workers are forced to prey upon one all hitherto existing society is the history mandeer these necessities without pay- ing the factory, in violation of the Worker another to climb ahead—breeds antisocial of class struggles. Freeman and slave, ing, that person is then confronted by the Adjustment and Retraining Notification behavior and other types of violence, such patrician and plebeian, lord and serf, police and the courts. Act. The Rev. Jesse Jackson called their as domestic violence. guild-master and journeyman, in a word, The state—police, courts, jails, prisons action “the beginning of a larger move- The next parts of this series will focus oppressor and oppressed, stood in con- and military—exist to enforce the will of ment for mass action to resist economic on struggles in oppressed communities, stant opposition to one another, carried those in power—the capitalist class. The violence.” (Chi-Town Daily News, Dec. 7) internally and abroad, state repression on an uninterrupted, now hidden, now state would not be necessary if there were The violence of the system can be read- of oppressed workers and fighting back. open fight, a fight that each time ended, no antagonism, no ill will in the larger either in a revolutionary reconstitution of society, no classes. society at large, or in the common ruin of In “The Origin of the Family, Private the contending classes.” Property, and the State,” Friedrich Engels leGAl UPdATe. Mumia Abu-Jamal’s We DeManD appeals 1- In the Spirit of 9 M.l.King W Following are excerpts April 4 Assassination JoBs! ALLST from a legal update written ¡Sí Se Puede! Anniversary by Abu-Jamal’s lead counsel, Robert R. Bryan, on Feb. 8. On Feb. 4, 2009, the U.S. APRIL 3 & 4 NATIONAL Supreme Court docketed and accepted for filing the Petition for Writ of Certiorari, with supporting Appendix, that I had submitted Dec. 19, 2008, on behalf of Mumia Abu-Jamal. (Abu-Jamal v. Beard, U.S. Sup. Ct. No. 08-8483.) [Go to www.millions4mumia.org to read the petition.] The central issue in this case is racism in jury selection. The prosecution systematically removed people from sitting on the trial jury purely because of the color of their skin; that is, being black. The bigotry that killed Martin Luther King, Jr., so many years ago, has been rampant in the case of my client and is a central part of the state’s quest to murder him in the name of the law. In an entirely separate case (Beard v. Abu-Jamal, Sup. Ct. No. 08-652), the prosecution is seeking to overturn the victory we achieved last year in the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Third Circuit. (Abu-Jamal v. Horn, 520 F.3d 272 (3rd Cir. 2008.) In that ruling the court ordered a new jury trial on the question of the death penalty. Our Brief In Opposition will be filed in the Supreme Court on Feb. 13, 2009. The legal defense for Mumia needs help. The costs for our litigation in two cases before the Supreme Court are substantial. To help, please make your checks payable to the “National Lawyers Guild Foundation” (indicate “Mumia” on the bottom left). The donations are tax deductible, and toP should be mailed to: Committee To Save Mumia Abu- Bail Out enD s Attacks on Evictions & Foreclosures Jamal, P.O. Box 2012, New York, NY 10159-2012. Students stoP Planning meeting Mumia remains on Pennsylvania’s death row. We are in & Youth Women & Housing & Fight Racism & THE LGBT People Health Care an epic struggle in which his life hangs in the balance. What Police layoFFs Wednesday occurs now in the Supreme Court will determine whether no are a Right! Brutality cutBacKs no Mumia will have a new jury trial, or die at the hands of the executioner. Bring all Feb.18 union the troops transit As I have previously pointed out, Mumia is in greater suPPort  Ye s ! HoMe noW! Fare 6:30 p.m. WorKer & danger than at any time since his 1981 arrest. Your support B a il O u t $$$ for Education Hike! CUNY Grad Center and activism is needed. This great journalist and author iMMigrant Workers th does not belong on death row or in prison. We must not igHts Pass EFCA 365 5 Ave. (bwt. 34 & 35 St.) r Not War & Occupation rest until he is free. All Out May 1 Now! Iraq-Afghanistan-Palestine 212.633.6646 Yours very truly, Robert R. Bryan Email: [email protected] E-mail: [email protected] n Page 8 Feb. 19, 2009 www.workers.org New constitution wins popular vote in Bolivian referendum By Donna Lazarus traditional lands. Article 5 promises the use of “at least two official languages, one Two million Bolivians voted in the Jan. of which must be Spanish and the other 25 national referendum, with some 1.3 will be chosen taking into account the million of the 2 million voters—almost 62 use, convenience, circumstances, neces- percent—voting to approve the new con- sities and preferences of the population.” stitution. This new document took two (NACLA, Jan. 27) years to develop into a legal framework In recognition of the spiritual and that overturns centuries of oppression religious traditions of many indigenous of Bolivia’s marginalized masses. With groups, the constitution recognizes the its 500 articles, the constitution lays out Indigenous earth goddess Pachamama. rules to recognize Bolivia’s oppressed The freedom of religion provision con- Indigenous peoples and offer them a voice firms the separation of church and state. in their future. Morales’s right-wing opposition cam- Bolivian law prohibits vehicular traffic paigned widely against this particular on election/referendum days to prevent article, charging that it diminishes the anyone from voting more than once. The power of the Catholic Church in Bolivia. 1.3 million arrived by foot or by donkey to Morales has asserted that the Catholic vote for the new constitution and cheer its Church has supported the wealthy land- victory. owners of Santa Cruz and has tried to Cheers, fireworks and dynamite, turn back the clock to the feudal time of Bolivian tin miners’ expression of solidar- Bolivian miners march past Evo Morales in El Alto, just above La Paz, Feb. 7. the last century. ity, greeted President Evo Morales when Article 14, paragraph 11 reads, “The he appeared on the presidential palace’s Goni’s use of violence against the The peasants feel that the cities would State prohibits and punishes all forms of balcony, a few feet above his supporters. Bolivian masses, who defended them- starve without them, and they should be discrimination based on sexual orienta- On this momentous occasion in the selves and their country against exploi- recognized for feeding the country. tion and gender identity,” making Bolivia history of Bolivia, Morales greeted the tation, killed 80 workers and peasants. The constitution lost in the wealthy one of the first countries to include gen- thousands who filled the Plaza de Murillo When an uprising forced Goni to flee the eastern departments of Pando, Santa der identity as part of their constitution. that evening in the capital, La Paz, say- country in 2003, he settled in Florida. The Cruz, Beni and Tarija, where there has The right-wing has mobilized an attack ing, “Here begins a new Bolivia. Here we Bolivians are trying to have him extradit- been organized and violent opposition with billboards and media announce- begin to reach true equality. We will break ed, so he can face charges for his crimes to MAS policies and where the ruling ments saying gay marriages will abound the chains of discrimination, segregation, against the people. politicians have called for secession. But and undermine Bolivian society. The new racism, subordination, colonialism, and even in this region, known as the Media constitution, however, falls short of sup- humiliation.” (NACLA, Jan. 27) Peasants back constitution Luna or half moon, 41 percent in Pando, porting the right of women to abortion. Morales continued, “I want you to Peasants in the countryside voted 35 percent in Santa Cruz and 43 percent The new constitution also prohibits the know something: the colonial state ends overwhelmingly for the constitution, in Tarija voted for the new constitution. creation of U.S. military bases in Bolivia. here. Internal colonialism and external which won handily in five of Bolivia’s (Cambio, Jan. 28) The U.S. ambassador to Bolivia uncer- colonialism end here. Sisters and broth- nine departments, even in Chuquisaca, The new constitution calls such basic emoniously walked out of a recent speech ers, neocolonialism ends here, too.” The whose capital, Sucre, has been a center of services as water, sewer, gas and electric- by Morales in La Paz. president was referring to the policies of opposition to Morales and his party, the ity basic human rights, as well as educa- The Bolivian masses also voted for a Morales’s predecessor, Gonzalo Sánchez Movement Toward Socialism (MAS). tion and health care. It recognizes the 5,000-hectare limit on privately owned de Lozada, known as Goni, who was ready The Indigenous peasantry feel special Afro-Bolivian community, as well as 36 rural estates (a hectare is equal to about to sell Bolivia’s rich natural resources at resentment about the lack of support from Indigenous groups and their linguistic 2.5 acres). low cost to foreign buyers. capitalist and middle-class city dwellers. traditions, and provides for self-rule on In Bolivia, just 100 families own 25 mil- lion hectares. Two million peasants have access to only 5 million hectares, giving No money to send home Bolivia, one of the poorest countries in the world, one of the highest concentra- tions of land in the hands of the fewest Global crisis cuts immigrants’ jobs number of landowners. (ipsnews.net) In response to the openly reactionary By David Hoskins gration hysteria in the U.S. intersects particularly the United States.” press in Bolivia, MAS founded its own with the financial crisis to severely reduce African workers emigrate in significant newspaper, Cambio, the first issue of The global financial crisis is forcing job opportunities for Mexican migrant numbers to countries of former European which was published on Jan. 22. Morales emerging and underdeveloped economies workers. colonial powers such as France, Great said that Bolivia was preparing to let the throughout Latin America, Africa and Remittances are Mexico’s second larg- Britain, Spain and Italy as well as to the truth be known to the Bolivian people Southeast Asia to take a double whammy. est source of foreign income after oil. U.S. There is also a significant amount and that this newspaper “won’t humiliate Economic instability and corresponding Remittances dropped from $26 billion of intercontinental emigration among anyone, but will inform and educate us.” job losses at home are compounded by in 2007 to $25 billion in 2008. State African countries. Total remittances to (ipsnews.net) a severe decline in remittances from the repression of undocumented workers in and within Africa are close to $40 billion Another recent development in Bolivia migrant workers who serve as a super- the U.S., along with militarization of the for an average of about 5 percent of GDP was the expulsion in January of the Israeli exploited segment of the working class in border and the downturn in the U.S. con- for countries in the region. According to ambassador to Bolivia as a protest against the industrialized capitalist economies of struction industry, all contributed to the World Bank estimates, remittances to Israel’s bombing of Gaza and massacres the United States, Western Europe and $1 billion decline. sub-Saharan Africa are set to fall in 2009 there. Japan. The Philippines’ economy is being nega- for the first time in over a decade. On Feb. 7 there was a government- Remittances are sums of money sent tively affected by a contraction in exports The global financial crisis and the subse- and trade union-sponsored celebra- from individual migrant workers to their and a decline in remittances. The World quent decline in remittances and exports tion of the new constitution in El Alto, families and friends in their country of Bank has projected a 1 percent decline in contribute to the political and economic the Indigenous city on the plateau just origin. The combined remittances of all Philippine exports this year. More than 8 crises in underdeveloped countries all above La Paz, which is home to 650,000 migrant workers provide a substantial million Filipinos work overseas in coun- around the world. These conditions call of Bolivia’s 9 million people. El Alto is boost to underdeveloped economies. An tries such as the U.S., Saudi Arabia and for even greater solidarity from workers known for its resistance to the bourgeois estimated 150 million migrant workers Japan. in the U.S., Western Europe and Japan as government of Goni and its sacrifice of worldwide sent more than $300 billion A Nov. 8 article by Rosario Bella Guzman, part of a struggle to stop any attacks on many people to the struggle against neo- home to their families in 2006. the executive editor of the research group immigrant workers. n liberal policies. n U.N. International Fund for Agricultural Ibon Foundation, makes the point that Development statistics show that in 2006 though the number of people from the What YOU should know about the hidden war in remittances made up as much as 3 per- Philippines working in the United States Congo –past & present By Abayomi Azikiwe Reprinted from Workers World cent of the gross domestic product in won’t necessarily go down, they may be Mexico, more than 12 percent of GDP in fired and then “rehired in cheaper and Summit fails to resolve crisis Nov. 20, 2008 the Philippines and 21 percent of GDP in lower quality jobs as the US economy con- Fighting continues in eastern Congo; imperialist states weigh intervention Haiti. Remittances accounted for a stag- tinues to reel from the crisis.” Colonialists plot return Nov. 13, 2008 gering 30 percent of GDP in the Palestinian Guzman added that it is likely that E.U. ministers signal troop deployment to Congo territories of the West Bank and Gaza. “remittances will slow down due to falling U.N. poised for broader intervention in Congo Oct. 30, Nov. 6, 2008 Mexican remittances have taken a sig- and negative incomes and social services, Historical background to the current crisis–In 3 parts nificant hit as the impact of anti-immi- and mounting debts in the host countries, U.N. poised for broader intervention in Congo Oct. 23, 2008 Order online at www.Leftbooks.com www.workers.org Feb. 19, 2009 Page 9

New Somalia government Can it bring peace and stability? By Abayomi Azikiwe (ARS), which grew out of the resistance to movement, which had been allied with Abudurrahman Ibrahim Ma’ow, chair of Editor, Pan-African News Wire the U.S.-backed Ethiopian occupation. the Islamic Courts Union, has rejected the the Council of Islamic Courts in Hiraan, A new president was inaugurated in Since the disintegration of its plans to Djibouti peace agreement and has contin- said witnesses had verified the Ethiopian the Horn of Africa nation of Somalia on control Somalia through Ethiopian troops, ued to carry out armed actions against the intervention. “We, the authorities in the Jan. 31. Former Union of Islamic Courts Washington now calls this grouping “mod- government as well as the AMISOM forc- region, will not accept it. If they do not leader Sheikh Sharif Sheikh Ahmed, 44, erate.” Another faction of ARS, headed by es. Al-Shabab has effectively taken con- leave within 24 hours we will fight with has pledged to open up negotiations with Hassan Dahir Aweys and based in Asmara, trol of large areas of the south and central them.” (Al-Jazeera, Feb. 6) other organizations that remain isolated Eritrea, is considered more radical and has regions of the country. U.S. responsibility from the reformulated coalition. refused to join the new coalition govern- In a statement issued by Al-Shabab on Sheikh Sharif was elected at a parlia- ment headed by Sheikh Sharif. Feb. 6, the resistance movement urged The intervention of the U.S. under the mentary meeting in neighboring Djibouti Sheik Sharif had surrendered to Kenyan Somalis to intensify their struggle aimed Bush administration is largely responsible after the collapse in late December of the military forces in early 2007 but was soon at the removal of AU forces from the coun- for the political and economic crisis exist- Transitional Federal Government (TFG) released. He returned initially to Somalia try. “We call on the African Union forces to ing now in Somalia. Since the U.S.-backed headed by Abdullahi Yusuf. The TFG had in November 2008 under the terms of a pull out of our country or face resistance intervention by Ethiopia in December been propped up by U.S.-backed Ethiopian peace agreement reached in Djibouti in harsher than what they have ever experi- 2006, the country has experienced one troops that invaded in December 2006, October. enced,” Sheikh Muktar Robow, a leading of the worst humanitarian crises on the toppled the Union of Islamic Courts and Although he was involved in the resis- figure in Al-Shabab, told the French Press African continent. occupied the country. tance to the occupation, politically he is Agency (AFP). Even though the new Obama adminis- The Ethiopian government of Meles also considered a moderate in comparison He spoke with reporters in Baidoa, a city tration has given its approval to the new Zenawi had sent its army into Somalia, to the Al-Shabab group, which is still fight- under Al-Shabab control, and condemned administration of Sheikh Sharif, the peo- largely at the behest of the Bush adminis- ing to bring about the removal of African the Feb. 5 massacre of 18 civilians by AU ple of Somalia must be paid reparations. tration, after the Union of Islamic Courts Union peacekeeping forces (AMISOM). soldiers in Mogadishu. “We are telling More than 16,000 people have died and had established bases throughout large The number of seats within the Somalia them that we don’t need their help if they an estimated 1 million have been dislo- sections of the country. Fierce resistance parliament has been doubled to 550 in are going to be massacring our people and cated since December 2006. The people of to Ethiopia’s occupation over the last two order to take in 200 members from the I urge all holy fighters in the country to Somalia must be allowed to resolve their years resulted in the formal withdrawal of Islamic Courts Union as well as 75 repre- step up their struggle against them.” own internal affairs without the interven- Ethiopian forces in early January. sentatives from other opposition groups. Al-Shabab has several thousand fight- tion of U.S. imperialism. Sheikh Sharif took control of the new In response to his election, Sheikh Sharif ers under arms and is estimated to out- The former U.S.-backed regime col- regime after United-Nations-brokered said that “My first priority is to bring peace number the ineffective Somalia security lapsed because of the widespread resis- negotiations to create a coalition gov- to Somalia and I will serve the nation to the forces and the 3,200-member AMISOM tance of the Somali masses. The people ernment by bringing in groups that had best of my ability.” (Al-Jazeera, Feb. 7) contingent composed of troops from in Somalia have historically guarded their resisted the U.S./Ethiopian-backed TFG. The former speaker of the Somalia Uganda and Burundi. sovereignty and right to self-determina- Sharif stated on Feb. 9 in Mogadishu parliament, Sharif Hassan Sheikh Aden, Under the terms of the October tion. This tradition has been strengthened that he would institute sharia law in spoke in favor of the ascendancy of Sheik peace agreement, Ethiopian forces were through their experience of resisting U.S. Somalia. In a meeting with Islamic leaders Sharif, pointing out that he “is one of the required to withdraw from the country. interference over the last two years. and government security forces, the presi- most prominent figures in Somalia. Sheikh However, on Feb. 6 there were reports that Abayomi Azikiwe is the editor of the dent encouraged peace and reconciliation Sharif is the best choice to overcome the Ethiopian troops had re-entered a Somalia Pan-African News Wire and has been among Somali organizations. current crisis.” (Al-Jazeera, Feb. 7) border town and set up checkpoints to take following developments in Somalia for It was reported that “Said Dhere, the Nonetheless, the Al-Shabab resistance money away from local residents. Sheikh many years. commander of the Somali military forces, and some caretaker government ministers attended the meeting. ‘We consider the Tamils protest bloody offensive role of every Somali citizen who can help bring peace to the nation,’ said President By David Hoskins Toronto is home to 200,000 Tamils, Human Rights Watch, which con- Sheikh Sharif Sheikh Ahmed.” (Shabelle. one of the largest communities of Tamils demns the LTTE, has also criticized the net, Feb. 9) An estimated 45,000 Tamils in Toronto, outside southern India and Sri Lanka. Sri Lankan government for mass arrests Who is Sheikh Sharif Sheikh Ahmed? Canada, took to the streets in a huge show A day after the Toronto protest, more of civilians fleeing battle areas where the He attended Islamic school in Somalia of force on Jan. 30. They were protesting than 50,000 Tamils demonstrated in government is attacking LTTE outfits. and later traveled to Sudan and Libya atrocities by the Sri Lankan army against London. The organization has called on the U.N. during the 1990s, where he was trained civilians. In Toronto the protesters constructed and concerned governments to pressure in geography. He became a high school Tamils are a minority in Sri Lanka, a a human chain in the downtown area and the Sri Lankan government to spare civil- teacher in Mogadishu prior to involvement large island south of India where, for the blocked traffic in a bid to call attention ians from harm. in the resistance movement to Ethiopian last 25 years, an organization called the to what they described as Sri Lankan- The Sri Lankan government has impos­ occupation. Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam has government genocide against Tamils. ed severe restrictions on the movement of A former leader of the Islamic Courts been fighting for the creation of a separate Estimates of the civilian dead there range journalists and human rights monitors. Union, he fled into exile after the interven- state for Tamils. The government recently between 300 and 800 as a result of recent This has cast serious doubt on claims by tion of Ethiopian troops and was demon- launched a bloody offensive against them government military operations. UNICEF Sri Lanka’s military that it has only tar- ized by the U.S. He chaired a wing of the in the north­ern, Tamil-populated part of says many infants and children have been geted LTTE fighters in its offensive. n Alliance for the Re-liberation of Somalia the island. injured or killed in these operations. Harlem meeting says: ‘Hands off Zimbabwe’

A standing-room-only crowd of several hundred attended a Black History Month forum held at the National Black Theater in Harlem Feb. 8 entitled “Zimbabwe: Pan- Africanism or Imperialism.” The meeting was organized by the Brooklyn-based December 12th Movement and Friends of Zimbabwe. oohk

The meeting explored the historical and R

present-day issues facing this once coloniz­ L al : ed country in southern Africa. British and photo U.S. imperialism are once again targeting

Zimbabwe for defending its sovereignty ww and especially for redistributing the land to Forum speakers explained why sanc- Omowale Clay, D 12; Chaka Cousins, All Moorehead, International Action Center; its people. Economic sanctions continue to tions are an act of war, defended President African People’s Revolutionary Party; pro- and attorney Malik Zulu Shabazz, New Black plague the people of Zimbabwe with dire Robert Mugabe against racist demonization fessor Dr. Leonard Jefferies, City College Panther Party. Videotaped remarks were poverty, malnutrition and erosion of their and linked Zimbabwe with the struggle CUNY; Pan-Africanist professor and author, shown of renowned playwright and poet, infrastructure, despite the implementation against wars abroad and with the struggle Dr. Molefi Asante; Viola Plummer, D 12; Dr. Amiri Baraka. Workers World will report of a national unity government, set now for against war at home. James McIntosh, Committee to Eliminate more on this historic forum in a future issue. Feb. 13. From left to right the speakers are Media Offensive to African People; Monica —Monica Moorehead Page 10 Feb. 19, 2009 www.workers.org

Free Leonard Peltier! Kim Jong-Il Feb. 6 was the 33rd anniversary of leaders or participants in struggles for the arrest of Native political prisoner the liberation of their people who are Leonard Peltier. accused of killing police officers or FBI Peltier, a participant in the American agents, then given unfair trials where Contributions to the Indian Movement, was wrongfully evidence is suspect and the cards are convicted in 1976 of the death of two stacked against them. Once they have Federal Bureau of Investigation agents chosen the victim to point the finger at, struggle for socialism in a shoot-out at the Pine Ridge Indian the agents of the state are relentless in Reservation. For 33 years Peltier has their attempts to keep political prisoners By Eric Struch In response, Kim Jong Il strength- languished in several prisons, despite locked up, no matter what evidence sur- ened the military capability of the KPA revelations of coerced testimonies, fabri- faces that points to his or her innocence. The more a people’s leader is slan- and developed Songun to strengthen the cated and suppressed evidence, and fed- Recent attacks on Peltier confirm the dered, ridiculed and belittled by the rac- nation ideologically. Rodong Sinmun, in eral officials stating that it is unknown ruthlessness of the state. Peltier, who ist capitalist press in this country, the its January 1999 New Year’s editorial, who fired the shots or what role Peltier has always been a model prisoner, was more important it is to look beyond the defined Songun as an ideology “in which may have played. Peltier, who was incar- recently beaten upon his transfer to propaganda to find out why the ruling the People’s Army serves as the main force cerated at the age of 31, is now 64 and Canaan Federal Prison in Pennsylvania— class considers this leader and what he/ of revolution and in which the unity of the suffers from diabetes. an attack that many suspect was set she represents such a threat. army and the people helps to safeguard Despite his imprisonment, Peltier has up by prison officials to disqualify him Media in the U.S., privately owned—like as well as build socialism.” The army never wavered in the struggle for Native when he faces a parole board sometime everything else—by our obscenely wealthy not only defended the country against rights, for his own freedom, and for an this year. Only after many people pro- rulers, have presented a profoundly dis- attack—a real threat for Korea, which end to racist oppression and repression tested their outrage over this setup was torted picture of the socialist northern has been mercilessly invaded in the past at the hands of successive U.S. admin- Peltier returned to the federal Lewisburg part of Korea and its leader, Kim Jong Il. by both Japan and the U.S.—but worked istrations. In a solidarity statement to Penitentiary. Racism and personal attacks are the norm alongside civilians on many development fellow political prisoner Mumia Abu- In a message to newly elected and the most outrageous lies are promot- projects to repair the damage caused by Jamal this past April, Peltier wrote: “We President Barack Obama, 2008 Green ed as fact. the floods and drought. The U.S.-backed are the American Indian Movement, we Party presidential candidate Cynthia The truth is that Kim Jong Il, who government in South Korea has outlawed are the Black Panthers, we are MOVE, McKinney urged: “Peltier should be is chairperson of the National Defense Web sites that promote Songun. we are the Viet Cong, we are the Irish released. He has become a global symbol Commission, general secretary of the In addition to Songun, the three oth- Republican Army and the Palestinian of injustice and prison abuse.” Korean Workers Party (WPK) and supreme er mainstays of Kim Jong Il’s politics Liberation Organization. We are every McKinney concluded: “True and last- commander of the Korean People’s Army have been an intransigent opposition to man, woman and child who desires to ing peace will come only with justice. (KPA), has had a prominent leadership bureaucratic privilege, the development see a sunrise in a land of freedom and Freeing our political prisoners, including role in the DPRK since the late 1970s. of Juche and moving the struggle for opportunity, a land of plenty and not Peltier, Mumia, Sundiata [Acoli], Imam Juche, the Korean philosophy of self- national reunification forward. hunger, a land of choices without fear, El-Amin, our Puerto Rican political pris- reliance, was originated by Kim Il Sung— Kim Jong Il became known in the late a land of progress without brutality.” oners, and so many more is but a down founder of the WPK and the great leader 1960s for his opposition to the use of mate- (phillyimc.org, April 21) payment on the path and justice and of Korea’s revolution against colonialism rial incentives to increase production. His Peltier’s frame-up mirrors the frame- reconciliation.” and capitalism. Kim Jong Il has continued belief, which he shared with Ernesto “Che” up of so many other political prisoners— Free Peltier and all political prisoners! in the Juche tradition and added to it the Guevara, was that this broke down social- n policy of Songun, which puts the People’s ist solidarity among workers. In the early Army at the center of Korean society. This 1970s, after being elected to the Central is what allowed the DPRK to maintain its Committee of the WPK, he was responsi- socialist system, defend the nation and ble for legislation mandating that higher- pull through an extremely difficult period level bureaucrats spend 20 days a month during the mid to late 1990s. at regular working-class jobs alongside What does ‘emergency’ That period began with the counterrevo- other workers. lutionary overthrow of the socialist bloc in Songun politics rest on the foundation mean? Eastern Europe in 1989 and in the Soviet of the Juche idea. The three principles Union in 1991. This fell as a heavy blow on of Juche are independence in politics This letter arrived in response food stamps—by a day. I the DPRK, since nearly all its trade was (chaju), self-sustenance in the economy to the article, “Welfare vanishes Qsaid, “How can there be an with the socialist community of nations. (charip) and self-defense in national as poverty soars,” published in the emergency deadline? If you need food, On July 8, 1994, the Korean people suf- defense (chawi). Feb. 12 issue of Workers World. you need it and your children need it? fered the profound loss of Kim Il Sung. Kim Jong Il is responsible for the formu- My daughter, Aurora, lives in How can they have you wait? You could After a period of national mourning and lation of the Three Charters for National Albuquerque, N.M. She has two children, starve!” before Kim Jong Il was even able to take Reunification—independence, peaceful and since her companion lost his job as a It was the same thing with TANF the reins of power, Korea was hit by devas- reunification and national unity. He has chef at Marriot, she/they are fairly desti- [Temporary Assistance to Needy tating record floods in 1995 and 1996 and made concrete proposals to the South tute. She works on call as a home health Families]; miss an emergency dead- then suffered years of drought, starting in Korean government for a unified demo- care aide. line and wait for two or three weeks for 1997. This was absolutely catastrophic in a cratic federal republic. All this led to the Aurora was in New York for Christmas help—the little that you get! country where only 18 percent of the land historic breakthrough of the June 2000 and was good enough to spend all of her I guess Clinton changed the mean- is arable. inter-Korean summit meeting. The result food stamp allotment on us (turkey for ing of a simple word. You would have U.S. imperialism under Bill Clinton of the summit was a milestone in the long Christmas and trimmings). When she got thought it a non-negotiable word: attempted to take advantage of the suffer- struggle for reunification: the adoption back to New Mexico, she found that she emergency! ing of the Korean people during this dif- of the June 15th Joint Declaration. The had missed the deadline for emergency –Donna ficult period by ratcheting up the military DPRK saw this as “freeing north-south Brooklyn, N.Y. pressure of its more than 30,000 occupy- relations from the long-standing concept ing troops in the south and threatening of confrontation and turning them into the DPRK with nuclear destruction. one of reconciliation and cooperation.” It  was followed in 2007 by the October 4th Declaration, which reaffirmed the goals of www.workers.org the June 2000 agreement. Support the paper that supports the workers Last fall, however, the election of For 25¢ a day you can become a Workers World supporter Choose a Supporter Program option: ultrarightist Lee Myung Bak in the U.S.- $75 Enclosed to become a WW Supporter $100 WW Sponsor occupied south was a major setback to the Workers World is able to publish anti-war, anti-racist news because we are $300 WW Sustainer One time donation of $ ______. momentum established by the two previ- truly independent. You can’t get anything like it in any of the big business ous joint declarations. One of the main Please send me more information about the Supporter Program. controlled media. We have no corporate backers or advertisers. We rely goals of the DPRK today is to move reuni- completely on your donations. A donation of $100 a year is just about 25¢ Name______Phone ______fication forward. a day. Become a member of the Workers World Supporter Program and Kim Jong Il’s birthday is on Feb. 16. Considering that he has led the KPA and help build the newspaper year round. Address______City/State/Zip______the WPK through the country’s darkest Sponsors who contribute $100 a year or more receive a year’s subscrip- Email ______days in the 1990s and preserved socialism, tion to the print edition of the newspaper, a monthly letter, five free trial Workers World Newspaper 55 W. 17th St., 5th Fl., NY, NY 10011 is it any wonder that it will be celebrated subscriptions to the print edition, and a book from WW Publishers. 212.627.2994 fax: 212.675.7869 email: [email protected] all over Korea? n www.workers.org Feb. 19, 2009 Page 11 Israeli crimes in Gaza incite struggle worldwide By Kathy Durkin Salukia Spring in the Israeli-occupied Golan Heights, the ship and also attempted to ensure that scab labor Israel seizes aid ship bound for Gaza thereby depriving the Syrian population of a vital water would not be used. ... A few hours after berthing ... the A Lebanese ship carrying 60 tons of humanitarian aid supply. Johanna Russ sneaked out of Durban Harbor.” (wwww. for the besieged people of Gaza was aggressively inter- Eden Springs Scotland shut its East of Scotland depot cosatu.org) cepted and seized on Feb. 5 by the Israeli navy. Called “The after losing hundreds of contracts across Scotland fol- COSATU members plan to intensify their efforts in Brotherhood Ship,” this unarmed vessel carried medical lowing an Edinburgh University boycott. Lancaster support of the Palestinian people’s struggles by strength- supplies, food, books, toys and milk for children. University’s Friends of Palestine Society is pushing for a ening boycotts of Israeli products and institutions, and The cargo ship was stopped 19 miles off Gaza. On board campuswide boycott there. (scan.lusu.co.uk) pushing divestment and sanctions against Israel. were human rights activists, religious figures, journalists Strathclyde activists vow future sit-ins to demand COSATU states: “The momentum against apartheid and crew members. the university sever its ties to the United Kingdom’s Israel has become an irresistible force. We are proud Al-Jazeera correspondent Salam Khoder reported that BAE Systems, which ships arms to Israel, and more. to stand with the millions around the world who say, the Israeli navy opened fire on the ship. Then soldiers (Scotsman.com) ‘Enough is enough.’ They are doing what we asked them stormed it. Passengers were beaten, then handcuffed to do when we faced the apartheid regime in our own and interrogated, and their possessions confiscated. All country.” were arrested. Most were held for a day. Khoder said that Western Australia dockworkers COSATU and the Palestine Solidarity Committee of she and another woman, Lebanese TV reporter Ugarith to boycott Israeli ships South Africa stress, “This is just the beginning of a soli- Dandash, and Dr. Hani Suleiman, an organizer of the On Jan. 27 the Maritime Union of Australia (Western darity campaign which will continue until the demands Lebanese aid mission, were beaten. (iht.com) Australia) resolved support for the people of Gaza and of the Palestinian people have been won.” The ship’s owner, Mohamed Youssef, told Al-Jazeera condemned Israel’s military assaults on them. from Beirut that the navy’s firing damaged the ship. He The delegates’ assembly endorsed the Palestinian said, “Contacts with the ship were cut. … the crew and Boycott, Divestment and Sanctions (BDS) campaign BDS movement salutes South African passengers were beaten savagely.” (latimes.com) and pledged to fully participate in it. They called on the The freighter was forcibly towed to Ashdod, Israel, Transport and Allied Workers Union Australian Council of Trade Unions (ACTU) and Unions where it was searched and where it remains. What hap- On Feb. 3 the Palestinian Boycott, Divestment and WA to support the BDS and all related actions. pened to the aid is unknown. Most passengers and crew Sanctions National Committee, BNC, warmly saluted They also asked that the Maritime Union of Australia have been sent to Lebanon and Syria, but as of Feb. 6 SATAWU for not unloading the Israeli ship on Feb. 4: state conference agree to boycott “all Israeli-registered two crew members from India were still in Israeli police “Coming weeks after the massive Israeli massacre in vessels, and all vessels known to be carrying either goods custody. Scottish human rights and Free Gaza Movement Gaza, this distinguished expression by SATAWU of effec- destined for Israel or goods sourced from Israel.” (www. activist Teresa McDermott is reportedly in Israel’s tive solidarity with the Palestinian people in general, and greenleft.org.au) Ramleh prison. (palsolidarity.org) with Gaza in particular, sets a historic precedent that Sydney MUA officials roundly condemned Israel’s Though other humanitarian-aid ships bound for Gaza reminds us of the first such action during the apartheid massacres in Gaza by signing a petition which was pub- have been harassed and threatened, this is the first time era taken by Danish dock workers in 1963, when they lished in the Sydney Morning Herald. that Israel has seized a ship, its passengers and crew. decided not to offload ships carrying South African prod- Israel is trying to stop solidarity with the Palestinians ucts, triggering a similar boycott in Sweden, England and while its belligerent enforcement of the blockade of Gaza South African dockworkers elsewhere.” (www.bdsmovement.net) is preventing critical medicine and food from reaching They also hailed the decision of the Maritime Union of families there. refuse to unload Israeli goods Australia (Western Australia) to boycott Israeli vessels The Congress of South African Trade Unions (COSATU) and Israel-bound cargo and ships, and they recognized Scottish students’ solidarity announced a victory by South African Transport and the Greek dockworkers who threatened to block a ship Allied Workers Union (SATAWU), whose members carrying weapons to Israel to use against Gaza: with Palestinians refused to unload a ship filled with Israeli goods at “Those actions [and] the SATAWU decision … will Strathclyde University students staged a 24-hour sit- Durban harbor. most likely usher in a new, qualitatively advanced phase in on Feb. 4-5 to demand that the Glasgow school end its This courageous workers’ action is a big boost to the of BDS that goes well beyond symbolism. We call on dock ties to Israel. growing international movement challenging Israeli workers’ unions around the world to endorse similar Led by the Scottish Palestine Solidarity Committee oppression and militarism against the Palestinian people. sanctions against Israeli or Israel-bound cargo. (PSC), more than 40 students, including many The action was carried out despite threats to COSATU “Support in South Africa for the Palestinian struggle Palestinians, occupied the registry hall. The administra- members and maneuvers to try to circumvent the work- against Israel’s colonial and apartheid policies and its war tion then agreed to stop buying water from the Israeli- ers’ protests by the ship’s owner, M. Dizengoff and Co., a crimes is reaching new heights, with COSATU, the South owned company Eden Springs, to provide some schol- shipping agent for Zim Israel Navigation Company. The African Council of Churches, the Palestine Solidarity arships for Palestinian students, to publicize the Gaza shipping company had secretly changed the arrival date Committee, the Young Communist League and many aid appeal and to show solidarity with the University of for the cargo ship Johanna Russ, which docked on Feb. grassroots organizations and networks leading diverse Gaza. 4, four days earlier than expected. forms of BDS campaigns, informed by the long and Eden Springs has been the target of a growing boycott “The vigilant [dock]workers were on guard and imme- ultimately successful struggle of South Africans against campaign by the Scottish PSC for its violations of inter- diately they realized that it had docked, then they refused apartheid. The Palestinian and global BDS movement national and human rights laws. The company makes to handle it, despite pressures from management. against Israel is indebted to the people of South Africa worldwide profits from selling water it extracts from SATAWU members maintained their refusal to offload for their inspiring and morale-boosting solidarity.” n Afghanistan. Supply-route losses hamper NATO occupation By G. Dunkel have had a very difficult time replacing a back onto trains. Supplies completely destroyed bridge, rather than would go via rail to Termez The U.S. and its NATO allies face repairing it. in Uzbekistan. an extremely difficult challenge in The day the bomb went off in the Khyber While this cumbersome Afghanistan. How can they supply the Pass, the Kyrgyz president, Kurmanbek and obviously expensive troops they have there? Bakiyev, announced that Kyrgyzstan possible supply route More troops—the U.S. has floated the would no longer allow the U.S. to use its avoids Russia, any num- idea of an additional 30,000 to 40,000— airbase at Manas, which has been a con- ber of political changes and will mean a bigger challenge. venient staging ground for U.S. air ship- permutations could make it Most of the U.S. and NATO supplies ments destined for northern Afghanistan. untenable, not to mention come from Pakistan through the Khyber While the U.S. and British press made expensive. Given the cur- Pass. This is 80 percent of what they use— a big deal of the $2.15 billion aid pack- rent economic crisis, the An overturned truck lies on a destroyed bridge in the everything except weapons and ammu- age that Kyrgyzstan got from Russia, the Khyber area near Peshawar, Pakistan. expense of this operation is nition, which come by air. (Christian English-language Russian TV channel RT the more important factor. Science Monitor, Feb. 4). in a Feb. 7 report concentrated on the rape airport at Manas for air cargo. The Sunday Times of London (Feb. There is growing resistance in Pakistan charges against a U.S. airman, who had However, given the tense state of rela- 8) reported that U.S. Defense Secretary to supporting the U.S., and the Afghan diplomatic immunity. RT also interviewed tions between the U.S. and Russia, the Robert Gates has postponed deciding resistance has made this treacherous Kyrgyz farmers living near the base who Pentagon planners want to come up with whether to send an additional 17,000 mountain pass a priority target. were upset with U.S. planes dumping fuel a logistical scheme that avoids Russia, and troops after he couldn’t answer some Last week, according to the Daily Times before they land. of course Pakistan. of President Barack Obama’s questions of Pakistan, they blew up “a British-era The U.S. currently has permission One route currently under active con- about an exit strategy. iron bridge near Ali Masjid in Khyber to move nonlethal supplies through sideration starts on Georgia’s Black Sea The U.S. and its imperialist allies are Agency.” The blast was powerful enough Kyrgyzstan territory, which involves land- coast and heads across the Caucasus by finding it more and more difficult to over- to break windows in nearby buildings, ing them in the Ukraine then transporting rail to Azerbaijan, where supplies would come the resistance to their domination but two additions bombs didn’t go off. If the supplies most of the way to Manas by be loaded onto ships to cross the Caspian and occupation in Central Asia, or even to they had, the Pakistani authorities would train. The U.S. also uses the Soviet-built Sea to Kazakhstan. Then they’d be loaded reach a satisfactory stalemate. n Mhndo Obrero ¡Proletarios y oprimidos de todos los países, uníos! El cruel legado de Bill Clinton Asistencia pública se desvanece mientras profundiza la pobreza Por Fred Goldstein do en las listas de asistencia pública más de solicitar la ayuda. La asistencia en efec- ciones criminales contra Irak, y muchas tiempo del permitido de sesenta meses tivo era mínima y el proceso de solicitar otras medidas reaccionarias. Mientras millones de personas pierden durante la vida del/la beneficiado/a. difícil y degradante. Sometiéndose a las La carta citó cómo Edelman mostró sus hogares y sus empleos, los gobier- hostigantes e invasivas inspecciones men- que “un total de 11 millones de familias, nos estatales están reduciendo la mísera Bill Clinton destruyó la asistencia suales para retener los beneficios consti- 10 por ciento de todas las familias esta- asistencia disponible a l@s pobres y pública, forzando a millones de tuían una práctica más denigrante aún. dounidenses — perderían sus ingresos desemplead@s. personas a la pobreza Puesto que los beneficios eran primordi- bajo esta ley. Esto incluía más de 8 mil- Unos 2,6 millones de empleos se perdi- El programa bajo el cual la asistencia almente para madres solteras, las mujeres lones de familias con hij@s, muchas de eron en el 2008. El anuncio de 500.000 pública se distribuye se llama Asistencia tenían que ocultar cualquier relación con las familias que trabajaban afectadas por a 600.000 despidos en enero se espera Temporal para Familias Necesitadas un hombre para mantener los ínfimos recortes de los cupones de alimentos, que pronto y cientos de miles de recortes de (TANF, siglas en inglés). Este draconiano pagos recibidos del estado capitalista. resultaban en un promedio de $1.300 por empleo más ya están programados para programa fue instalado en el año 1996 Sin embargo, la AFDC era vital para la cada familia.” febrero. durante la administración de Clinton. Este existencia de millones de mujeres y sus “Usted muestra,” continuó la carta, Sin embargo, el número de personas reemplazó un programa de hacía 60 años hij@s. Debido a generaciones de discrimi- “que casi 800.000 inmigrantes perderán que reciben asistencia en efectivo durante que se inició bajo las políticas del Nuevo nación racista, ellas eran desproporcional- sus beneficios de Ingreso de Seguridad esta crisis permanece “al nivel, o cerca del Trato, [programas de rehabilitación mente africana-americanas y latinas, pero Suplementaria (SSI por las siglas en nivel más bajo en 40 años.” En un artícu- económica durante los años 1933 a 1939 millones de familias blancas pobres tam- inglés) y sus cupones de alimentos que lo publicado el 2 de febrero por el diario por el entonces Presidente Franklin D. bién se beneficiaron. Era un apoyo básico suman $24 mil millones en seis años. Y The New York Times se reportaron estas Roosevelt,] titulado Ayuda a las Familias de subsistencia. Además estaba garantiza- que 100.000 a 200.000 niñ@s con dis- nefastas cifras. con Niñ@s Dependientes (AFDC, siglas do por ley a cualquiera que calificara. capacidades, la mayoría de ell@s con múl- De hecho, dieciocho estados recortaron en inglés). Bajo la administración Clinton, el tiples discapacidades, perderán el SSI”. sus listas de asistencia pública en medio Bill Clinton llegó a la presidencia com- derecho a la asistencia pública llegó a un En ese entonces, Edelman dijo, “Éste de esta crisis. Michigan, uno de los dos prometiéndose a “terminar con la asisten- cruel final. TANF dio subvenciones en no es una ley de asistencia social . . . sino estados con una cifra oficial de desempleo cia pública que conocemos.” Eso fue una bloque en cantidades fijas a los estados para recortes” para familias pobres y traba- de más del 9 por ciento, recortó su lista de forma de decir “Vamos a destruir la asis- que hicieran prácticamente lo que quisi- jadoras. La carta abierta concluyó con asistencia pública en un 13 por ciento. De tencia pública.” Y eso fue lo que Clinton eran. Los estados tuvieron que remover a un llamado a enfocar la culpa hacia el los 12 estados donde el desempleo ha sub- hizo, en un pacto con un congreso bajo millones de mujeres pobres de sus listas Pentágono, los banqueros y los capitalis- ido más rápidamente, ocho de éstos han el control republicano encabezado por el en los infames programas “de la asistencia tas y para convocar un movimiento para recortado sus listas o las han dejado igual. derechista y reaccionario Newt Gingrich. al trabajo”. Muchos gobernantes reaccio- derrocar esta ley. De los 10 estados con las tasas más Después de firmar el proyecto y convertir- narios disfrutaban al ver la posibilidad de altas de pobreza infantil, ocho mantuvi- lo en ley, Clinton se jactó diciendo que “la mandar a estas pobres mujeres a la fuerza Se cayó el otro zapato eron el mismo nivel de casos o redujeron era del gran gobierno había terminado.” laboral, las cuales estaban usualmente Más importante aún, la ley nueva estab- aún más las listas. Cinco estados tuvieron Por supuesto que Clinton no se refería forzadas a tomar un trabajo tedioso y mal leció una cantidad fija para la totalidad de reducciones de doble dígitos en las listas al “gran gobierno” del Pentágono, el FBI, pagado en el sector público o privado. la asistencia social nacional, sin importar de asistencia pública, incluyendo a Texas, la CIA, etc. Lo que él hizo fue algo que L@s trabajador@s tenían que laborar cuántas personas necesitaran asistencia. que terminó la asistencia pública a 15 por la clase gobernante buscaba desde hace una semana en estos trabajos mal paga- Esto no sólo era algo totalmente cruel, ciento de l@s recipientes. mucho tiempo: permitirles tomar el dinero dos para ganar una asistencia disminuida altamente racista e injusto en ese tiempo, Estos recortes, dirigidos primordial- que se le había dado a las madres solteras y sólo podían obtener esta ayuda duran- sino que inevitablemente resultaría en un mente contra las mujeres, llegan en un con niñ@s que fueron abandonadas por el te cinco años durante toda su vida. Las desastre para tod@s l@s trabajador@s. momento cuando el desempleo entre las capitalismo y dejadas solas a la deriva en el mujeres que trataban de ir a la escuela El minuto en que surgiera una crisis mujeres sin educación de escuela superior mar de su pobreza. Ellos además querían para aprender una destreza eran forzadas económica y a l@s trabajador@s se les y en edades entre los 20 y 24 años, subió forzar a millones de mujeres empobreci- a escoger entre recibir los beneficios o ir acabaran los beneficios por desempleo, al 23,9 por ciento, del 17,9 por ciento hace das fuera de las listas de asistencia para a la escuela si su educación las forzaba a las masas de desemplead@s caerían en la un año. Celia Hagert del Centro para la así crear una vasta adición explotable a la reducir las horas de trabajo. más terrible pobreza y sufrimiento. Política Pública en Austin, Texas, dijo al fuerza laboral. La ley era tan draconiana que el secre- Hoy en día el país está en medio de una diario The New York Times, “Estamos Bajo el programa AFDC, las mujeres tario asistente de salud y servicios huma- crisis económica enorme y creciente que simplemente sacando a las familias del con hij@s que llenaron las condiciones nos, Peter Edelman, renunció en protesta está incluyendo a más y más sectores de la programa.” de tener poco o ningún ingreso, igual que y escribió una larga acusación en la edición clase trabajadora. Pero por la destrucción Rhode Island cerró los casos de 2.200 hombres con poco o ningún ingreso que no de marzo de 1997 del Atlantic Monthly tit- de Clinton de los programas de asistencia niñ@s porque sus familias ya habían esta- pudieran tener empleo, tenían el derecho ulada “Lo Peor que Hizo Clinton.” social, con el cambio de AFDC a TANF, En ese tiempo este autor escribió una los números de casos que necesitan asis- carta abierta a Edelman en la edición del tencia social han caído cada año desde el periódico Workers World/Mundo Obrero 1994. El nivel actual de 4,1 millones no del 27 de marzo de 1997 titulada “Echemos ha sido visto desde 1964. El hecho es que abajo la Ley de Asistencia Publica.” (work- los beneficios en efectivo pagados bajo el ers.org/ww/1997/edelman.html). TANF desde octubre del 2008, han sido Nuestra carta decía en parte: “Nos incli- sólo un 30 por ciento de los beneficios que namos a estar de acuerdo con el título se hubieran pagado bajo la AFDC. del artículo…[a pesar de que Clinton] a El grupo de Clinton se ha movido en su hecho muchas cosa terribles. Estas cosas mayor parte a la administración presente, incluyen la Ley del Crimen que financia incluyendo a Hillary Rodham Clinton y prisiones, la policía, y la pena capital; la Rahm Emanuel, entre otros. Éste es el Ley Antiterrorista que aumentó el poder grupo que ayudó a Clinton y Gingrich a represivo del FBI y terminó con el derecho empuñar el hacha que cayó encima de l@s del Habeas Corpus; la extensión del blo- trabajador@s y oprimid@s y que ahora queo criminal a Cuba al firmar el Acta está intensificando el sufrimiento. Helms-Burton; la continuación de las san- El único camino para darle marcha atrás a este ataque devastador contra l@s trabajador@s y l@s oprimid@s, es movi- Libertad para los cincos lizar una campaña masiva para luchar que compatriotas cubanos gue exija no solamente beneficios mínimos, defendieron a su país del terrorismo sino la total garantía de un trabajo a sala- y gue ahora están presos en EE.UU. rios justos con beneficios o ingresos que por evitar muertes en la isla den lo suficiente para vivir. Éste debe ser el verdadero derecho de la clase trabaja- Gerardo Hernández Nordelo, Ramón Labañino Salazar, Rene González Sehwerert, Antonio Guerrero Rodríguez y Fernando González Llort. dora multinacional. n